New parking kiosks installed at Easton’s Beach; no bathhouses this season

Scott Barrett Daily News staff writer @SOHbarrett

Thursday

May 14, 2020 at 6:30 PM

NEWPORT — Expect some changes this summer at Easton’s Beach.

No longer will employees take money from beachgoers looking to park in the lot on Memorial Boulevard. Instead, kiosks have been installed as part of the city’s self-pay parking program approved by the City Council last year.

“We’re hoping that by using self-pay stations, we’ll be able to provide a safer work environment for beach staff by eliminating the handling of large amounts of cash and will free up personnel to perform additional duties as part of their normal shifts,” Tom Shevlin, the city’s communications officer, wrote to The Daily News in an email.

The eight Hectronic Citea Color Touch pay stations came with a price tag of $62,280. Similar stations were installed last year at the Mary Street lot and city officials “were pleased to see the machines yield reduced operating costs, improved customer service, and an increase in collection revenue,” Shevlin wrote. “Our hope is that we experience a similar result at the Beach as soon as we’re able to reopen.”

The parking areas at Easton’s Beach are currently closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Once open, the parking rates at Easton Beach will be as follows: For automobiles, it’s $15 per day for a weekday and $25 per day for a weekend or holiday. For motorcycles, the fee is $5 per day for a weekday and $10 per day for a weekend or holiday. Motorists will be asked to display the receipt from the machine on their dashboard.

Because of the coronavirius pandemic, the bathhouse and reserved parking programs will be discontinued for the 2020 season, the city said in a press release.

“We are terribly disappointed to have to cancel these wonderful community amenities, however as we continue to develop our plans for the upcoming season it is critical that we adjust our operations in order to provide for the safety of both our beachgoers and the community at large,” the release says. “At this time, a reopening date for the beach is still unknown as we await guidance from the Governor and State health officials.”

Those who already have paid for a bathhouse can request a full refund, or put it toward the 2021 beach season. Should a patron request the refund, that patron will still be put back in the renewal campaign next winter.

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